Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip

From Lucca to the Cinque Terre A Tuscan Road Trip

Lucca - Levanto

Starting from between £1485 to £2085 per person for 6 days depending on the season of travel, advance booking time and the accommodation and activities chosen

Itinerary Highlights

  • Soak up the beauty of some of Italy’s most iconic regions
  • See Lucca’s sights by bike on a private cycle tour
  • Take a sunset boat trip around the Cinque Terre
Just a few days in Italy can leave a lasting impression. In Tuscany and the Cinque Terre, there’s beauty enough to satisfy any appetite for true Italian charm.

On this six-day road trip, skip the crowded Tuscan destinations of Florence and Siena in favour of the small city of Lucca, located at the foot of the Apennines. Lucca invites a slower pace of life, whether you’re cycling through the historic centre or relaxing in Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, built in the shape of the Roman amphitheatre that once stood there.

From here, drive to the spellbinding Cinque Terre villages, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your base will be in the hills of Levanto, where fishermen supply the restaurants with the day’s catch and wine flows freely from the surrounding vineyards. This entire area, including land and sea, is protected as a national park. On a sunset boat trip, you can appreciate its breathtaking beauty from a new perspective.
Tuscany - Italy © Nuria Val & Coke Bartrina
Tuscany - Italy © Nuria Val & Coke Bartrina
Tuscany - Italy © Jérôme Galland
Tuscany - Italy © Jérôme Galland
Cinque Terre - Italy © Lucy Laucht
Cinque Terre - Italy © Lucy Laucht
Tuscany - Italy © Jérôme Galland
Tuscany - Italy © Jérôme Galland
Monterosso al Mare - Cinque Terre - Italy © Lucy Laucht
Monterosso al Mare - Cinque Terre - Italy © Lucy Laucht
Villa Grabau - Tuscany - Italy © Rhiannon Taylor
Villa Grabau - Tuscany - Italy © Rhiannon Taylor
Cinque Terre - Italy © Lucy Laucht
Cinque Terre - Italy © Lucy Laucht
Cinque Terre - Italy © Rhiannon Taylor
Cinque Terre - Italy © Rhiannon Taylor
Tuscany - Italy © Rhiannon Taylor
Tuscany - Italy © Rhiannon Taylor

Itinerary

100% customisable for you

Your Italian break begins with a two-hour flight to Pisa. Upon arrival, pick up your hire car for the next few days and make a beeline for Lucca, a spectacular riverside city located around 30 minutes from Pisa. You’ll spend two nights here, so settle into your elegant accommodation and enjoy your first delicious dinner of the trip, before heading to your room to recharge for tomorrow’s adventure.

Fuel up with a hearty breakfast this morning, ready to explore Lucca on a private cycling tour. Protected by greenery-clad 16th-century walls, the city has been miraculously preserved over the years and still retains its Medieval character. Romanesque churches, the Guinigi Tower and the Roman amphitheatre all add to its charm, complemented by the pretty pink and ochre palette of its buildings.

Led by a local guide, sightsee from the saddle as you pedal through the pedestrianised historic centre, passing charming churches and Renaissance ramparts. En route, sample local specialities such as its distinctive olive oil (a bottle would make a great souvenir).

Back at the hotel, put your feet up and enjoy an evening of well-earned relaxation – and, of course, another delicious meal. Why not ask your Concierge for a recommendation?

Just over 60 miles separate Lucca in Tuscany from Levanto in Liguria, which lies very close to the charming Cinque Terre. As you drive for around an hour and 20 minutes between these two towns, take a moment to admire the magnificent marble quarries of Carrara along the way.

On arrival in Levanto, head to your characterful accommodation in the surrounding hills, where the air is fresh and the views magnificent. All that remains for the rest of the day is to relax and enjoy the vista of the valley and the glittering sea...

Spend the next two days soaking up the beauty of this breathtaking corner of Italy. Fancy getting active? We can arrange a private guided hike through the Cinque Terre National Park between Manarola and Volastra (where jaw-dropping views are guaranteed).

On one of the evenings, we’ll organise a sunset boat trip with a private skipper. Marvel at the beautiful panorama of the Cinque Terre, its colourful houses perched above the sparkling sea, as you cruise past the cliffside villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. As the sun melts into the water, watch the rocky cliffs take on an enchanting amber glow. Enjoy a glass of local wine as you toast to this magical sunset outing and a memorable trip.

However you choose to spend your final couple of days, fill them with plenty of delicious local cuisine – there’s no better way to get a taste of this region’s flavour.

Sadly, the time has come for you to make the journey home. Drive back to Pisa airport to return your rental car and board your flight back to London. You’ll touch down in the UK a little over two hours later, with enough happy holiday memories to see you through until your next trip...

Suggestions

Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included

EAT LIKE A LOCAL


One of the best ways to get a proper taste of a place is to, well, taste it. So, what could be more satisfying (for both stomach and soul) than a street food tour of Lucca? Join your local guide for a private peek into the city’s cuisine, stopping at some of the main sights and sampling quick bites of its best-loved specialities.

PRIVATE HIKE IN THE CINQUE TERRE


This site boasts a typical Mediterranean coastal landscape, with pine-covered hills plunging into a sea full of tiny coves and crevices. Above all, this area is best known for its five villages linked by picturesque paths: Monterosso, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Riomaggiore. This private guided hike leads you between Manarola and Volastra with plenty of sumptuous sea panoramas to admire en route – a trail to top any hiker’s ranking of favourite routes.

Why visit Italy with Original Travel ?

Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.

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A few of the benefits of travelling with us to Italy

  • Our local Concierges
  • The Original Travel app
  • Airport lounge access
  • Destination Dossier
  • 24-hour helpline
  • Expert guides
  • 100% carbon absorption

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Estimated Price

Dependent on the season of travel, advance booking time and the accommodation and activities chosen

The prices shown here are merely a guide, as all of our trips are entirely tailor-made. Tailor-made travel involves multiple moving parts, and prices can vary hugely depending on the season of travel, the lead time before the proposed travel date (last minute deals are pretty much a myth), availability, your choice of accommodation and any additional activities you want to include. That means the only exact price will be the one we quote you, which we can adapt to suit your budget. The estimated starting cost for this trip is between £1,485 and £2,085 per person. The average starting price for this trip is £1,825 per person.

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